Therapeutic Photography

Therapeutic Photography is the structured, guided engagement with the creative intervention of photography in order to produce images for exploration with clearly defined outcomes for the participant. 

Why

Photography and image making has become second nature as technology and access have improved exponentially wth the advent of phone cameras. As image making is so easily accessible it serves as an easeful and engaging tool to use in dialogue and conversation with groups.

Photographs serve as a portal to explore our place in society and the wider world to document, bring unity, share interactions and build our identity (Ulkuniemi, 2007). By having participants engage in meaningful exercises that allow for inward reflection and outward conversation.

Whether you are seeking to engage with a client group to identify barriers or create unity in a team the use of photography can open up deeper more engaging interactions.

Therapeutic photography can be used in a variety of settings including:

  • Healthcare to understand client perspectives and experiences to inform service provision

  • Organizational systems change identifying areas with transformational potential engaging with leadership and staff from the ground up

  • Understand DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) in an organizations current state, exploring lived experiences in your team or organization to build future improvements

  • Building cohesive teams that better understand lived experiences, roles, challenges and strengths, deepening conversations and building empowerment

Each series of sessions is planned with your group in-mind considering the planned outcomes and use of the photos and conversations with participants. Therapeutic photography provides an envelope where participants control how and what they share, with an intent to increase self-efficacy and empowerment for self-actualization and participatory change.

How

Each series of sessions can be tailored to meet your needs. Typically the best scenario is for sessions to run over 4-6 weeks (although shorter time frames can be accommodated), this allows time for picture taking and also time for folks to build confidence and complexity in their imaging making.

  • 4-6 weeks of sessions

  • Each session 60-120 minutes (depends on group size)

  • Can be condensed into 2-3 full days

  • Custom length to meet the needs of your project or group

  • Small groups Max. 10 participants

  • Can co-facilitate with other professionals or SME’s

  • Following group rules to ensure psychological safety of participants

Principles of this process are guided from Alison’s training and education as part of the Therapeutic Photography Postgraduate Certificate she took at Robert Gordon University, utilizing the work of Prof. Neil Gibson and Gibson’s Model (2018) see above diagram.



 
Diagram of Gibson's model of Structuring Therapeutic Photography

Pricing

Please contact Alison for a quote, costs vary depending on the number of sessions, required travel, accommodation and materials costs.